Criteria for "priority" residence NSC checks

Grant Johnson made this Official Information request to New Zealand Security Intelligence Service

The request was successful.

From: Grant Johnson

Dear New Zealand Security Intelligence Service,

In an 21 October 2022 article on RNZ by Gill Bonnett (https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/4770...), NZSIS supplied information regarding the average response times for a National Security Check (NSC) for applicants for residency visas.

The article includes the following quote:
"[NZSIS's] data showed its average response time for a NSC check was 23 days. Citizenship requests were responded to on average after two days, while 'priority' residence visas took 38. Residence 2021 category took 46, while 'routine residence visas including Residence 2021' took 66."

Can you please clarify what you meant by the word "priority" here? Is there a set of criteria used in determining which residence visa applications qualify as "priority" for the purposes of a NSC check? If so, what are those criteria? Or are there certain residency visa categories that receive a blanket designation as "priority", and if so, what are those categories?

In addition, can you please provide a copy of the same data that was supplied to the author of that article in connection to NSC response times?

Thank you for your assistance in this matter.

Yours faithfully,

Grant Johnson

Link to this

From: OIA Privacy
New Zealand Security Intelligence Service

Tēnā koe,

 

Thank you for your Official Information Act request. However, before we
can begin processing your request, we need to be satisfied that your
request meets the requirements under section 12(1) of the OIA. To that
end, could you please provide us with a form of ID that proves you meet
the eligibility criteria for an OIA, that being:

·         a New Zealand citizen; or

·         a permanent resident of New Zealand; or

·         a person who is in New Zealand; or

·         a body corporate which is incorporated in New Zealand; or

·         a body corporate which is incorporated outside New Zealand but
which has a place of business in New Zealand.

 

One we have received confirmation, we will endeavour to respond to your
request as soon as possible and, in any event, no later than 20 working
days after the day that your request was received, Monday 5 December
2022.  If we are unable to respond to your request by then, we will notify
you of an extension of that timeframe.

 

If you have any queries, please feel free to contact
[NZSIS request email].

 

Ngā mihi,

NZSIS

 

show quoted sections

Link to this

From: Grant Johnson

Dear OIA Privacy,

This request was made via the website fyi.org.nz, which is open to the entire NZ public and is operated by a NZ organisation.

To see the request itself, you can view: https://fyi.org.nz/request/21056-criteri...

I believe this should satisfy your request, and I look forward to receiving the information requested.

Yours sincerely,

Grant Johnson

Link to this

From: Grant Johnson

Dear OIA Privacy,

This request was made via the website fyi.org.nz, which is open to the entire NZ public and is operated by a NZ organisation.

To see the request itself, you can view: https://fyi.org.nz/request/21056-criteri...

I believe this should satisfy your request, and I look forward to receiving the information requested.

Yours sincerely,

Grant Johnson

Link to this

From: OIA Privacy
New Zealand Security Intelligence Service

Kia ora Grant

This is to advise that the NZSIS has made a decision on your request and will provide you with the information. We will get our substantive response to you without undue delay.

Kind regards
NZSIS

show quoted sections

Link to this

From: OIA Privacy
New Zealand Security Intelligence Service


Attachment 2022 11 07 Johnson NSC OIA response.pdf
833K Download View as HTML


Kia ora Gant

The Director-General's response to your request is attached.

Kind regards
NZSIS

show quoted sections

Link to this

Things to do with this request

Anyone:
New Zealand Security Intelligence Service only: